The entire logistics team in Chattanooga (US) promoted measures such as the use of fuel cells for materials transport as well as the recycling of paper and plastic, while Vojtech Kiss from Bratislava (Slovakia) turned his attention to recycling water from washing units. Volkswagen reports that it is on track with its “Think Blue. Factory.” environmental program: since 2011, the consumption of resources in vehicle production has been reduced by an average of 24.3% ( Earlier post.) MORE

The five-door hatchback is powered by the new U family 1.6-liter diesel engine, designed and engineered at Kia’s R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany and manufactured in Slovakia. The Venga EV concept. Click to enlarge. Kia introduced its first all-electric plug-in concept car, based on the just-arrived B-segment Venga MPV ( earlier post ), at the Geneva Motor Show. Venga EV is a front-wheel drive vehicle with the electric powertrain placed within the existing engine bay. MORE

Slovakia. sales of hybrid SUVs and other fuel efficient vehicles will prove interesting to watch this year, especially if fuel prices remain relatively low. Expert predictions about where oil and gas prices are headed vary widely. MORE

Škoda operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia and India mainly through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners. MORE

In addition, to increase its capacity to produce three-cylinder gasoline engines and move production as close to consumers as possible, PSA Group will install an EB module at the Trnava, Slovakia plant in 2019. As part of the energy transition process and in line with the technological offensive spelled out in its Push to Pass strategic plan ( earlier post ), PSA Group will focus on diversifying its offerings with plug-in hybrid gasoline systems and next-generation electric powertrains. MORE

r (Hungary); Bratislava (Slovakia); Changchun (China); Aurangabad (India); Martorell (Spain); and Jakarta (Indonesia). Audi has begun construction on a more than €900-million plant, comprising a press shop, body shop and assembly line in San José Chiapa, Mexico—the company’s first plant in North America. Starting in mid-2016, the plant will produce the successor generation of the successful Audi Q5 SUV. MORE

Switzerland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain will offer LPG-versions in addition to the regular gasoline and diesel range. In 2009, Chevrolet will further expand its LPG product range throughout Europe. Chevrolet’s strategy is to offer LPG versions for its entire product line-up. This will include the brand-new Chevrolet Cruze, which will hit the European dealer showrooms in May 2009. MORE

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia were hit by floods in the spring. The European Commission says cereal production in 2010 will be close to the average recorded since 2005. According to a report drafted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the yield per hectare will be 5% above average, while cultivated areas will shrink on the whole. Europe has faced a number of extreme weather events, such as floods and rain shortages, since the start of the year. MORE

The award-winners are Jörg Kessler from the Hanover plant, Peter Solárik from Bratislava (Slovakia), and Peter Splitt, Udo Guenther and Karsten Folchmann from the Salzgitter plant. The Volkswagen brand’s “Think Blue. Factory.” environmental program remains on track to meet its 2018 goals of reducing energy and water consumption as well as the share in waste, CO 2 and solvent emissions at all Volkswagen plants throughout the world by 25% compared with 2010 levels by 2018. MORE

The small car will be made at the Czech car maker’s production facility in Bratislava, Slovakia and will be introduced to the Czech market at the end of this year. Skoda has begun series production of its version of the VW up! and the SEAT Mii, the new Citigo. A pan-European roll-out will follow next [.]. Skoda Citigo city car SEAT Mii Up! VW Up MORE

That could be in the commercial vehicle world, as demonstrated by the GreenWay Project in Slovakia. Battery swapping was once hailed as the miracle cure for short-range electric cars, but the trials and tribulations of Better Place have shown that isn''t necessarily the case. MORE

The Austrian transport company Nothegger Transport maintains operations across 13 sites, including in countries such as Italy and Slovakia. Austrian haulier Nothegger Transport has ordered 220 trucks from Scania with biodiesel engines which meet Euro 6 requirements and are designed for 100-percent biodiesel operation. This major order follows the introduction of Scania’s 13-litre 450 hp engine, which meets Euro 6 standard for biodiesel operation. Earlier post.). MORE

Trnava, Slovakia) agreed to establish the V4G4 Centre of Excellence for performing joint research, development and innovation in the field of Generation-4 (G4) nuclear reactors. The V4 is an alliance of four Central European states—Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The nuclear research institutes of the Visegrád Group countries (V4) (ÚJV ?ež ež a.s., Husinec, Czech Republic; MTA EK, Budapest, Hungary; NCBJ, ?wierk, wierk, Poland; and VUJE, a.s., MORE

Manfred Austen GmbH (Dresden); Slovak University of Technology (Bratislava, Slovakia); Technical University Vienna and University of Innsbruck (both in Austria); as well as Technical University Dresden and the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences, Zwickau (Germany). The Project eRamp is co-funded by grants from ENIAC Joint Undertaking and from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia und the UK. MORE

The EU-27 comprises Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The European Community’s air pollutant emission inventory report released by the European Environment Agency finds that in 2007, sulphur oxides (SO x ) emissions were down by 72 % from 1990 levels. MORE

The 24 countries which are covered in the route, in alphabetical order, are as follows: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Honda aims to win a new Guinness World Records title for fuel efficiency in an 8,500-mile (13,679 km) drive across all 24 contiguous EU countries in a 1.6 MORE

Then, with around 45litres of fuel at his disposal, he embarked on his tour of the 12 European states and drove through the cities of Mosty in the Czech Republic, Bratislava in Slovakia, Hegyeshalom in Hungary, Graz in Austria, Varazdin in Croatia, Maribor in Slovenia, Toblach in Italy, Innsbruck in Austria, Schaan in Liechtenstein, Zurich in Switzerland and Saint-Louis in France before finishing in Frankfurt, Germany. MORE

ZSE), the largest distributor and supplier of electricity in Slovakia, on a smart energy “feasibility” study that will help prepare the capital city Bratislava for electric vehicles (EVs). The study will help identify the possibilities of connecting two neighboring metropolitan areas—Bratislava, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria with a “green” highway. IBM Slovakia is teaming with ZSE to provide insights into various implementation scenarios and infrastructure options for charging. MORE

The very first battery swap station dedicated to serving electric vans has opened in Slovakia. Opening last week in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava and run by GreenWay, the new station will be able to swap the batteries of vehicles up to 3.5 MORE

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, and Enviral, the largest producer of bioethanol in Slovakia, have signed a license agreement on sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology. MORE

A sister project between the Czech Republic and Slovakia will add another 30 charging stations. The Fast-E project, co-financed by the European Union and nine companies, has officially launched , with the objective of installing 241 fast-charging charging stations in Germany and 37 in Belgium. The 278 charging points set up every 80 km along Germany and Belgium’s main motorways, will allow drivers of electric vehicles to “refuel” and extend their car’s range. MORE